I cannot for the life of me get into this series. It took me over a month to finish this volume. Suzie and Jon are both such weak, whiny characters that I can only take them in small doses. I wanted to like this series so much, but I really just feel like going to sleep as soon as I open it.

TW: RAPE

Although I didn't hate The Garden, I have to agree with many that this is overall a weak re-telling of the origin myth. In the author's note, Aidinoff states that this isn't a "feminist" novel but rather a retelling "if the bible had been composed by a less patriarchal society." And it's clear that Aidinoff is trying to appease the masses with this statement and the novel. When Adam and God rape Eve, the serpent protects her from her attackers, but later tells Adam and Eve that God is not evil for having forced Adam onto Eve. A disgusting apologist sentiment in my opinion. For a creature who so longs to protect Eve, he seems very willing to forgive her attackers. He then later attempts to drug her and rapes her in her sleep. While many would read this as a love scene between the two, it is non-consensual and therefore another rape which Eve undergoes. The characters aren't well-rounded; Adam is like a puppy who follows wherever Eve goes but it's not quite clear why he follows so willingly. The Serpent is teacher/parental figure and then later in an almost incestuous way a lover and we never learn its origin and true relationship with God. God is simply angry and unloving. Eve herself seems too dependent on the Serpent and the moment that changes, it doesn't seem to change her enough--the writing is far too subtle.

I wasn't crazy about this in the beginning and I only became a little more intrigued along the way. I think SG/Doreen might be too chipper for me. Now if Tippy-Toe were the hero, I'd definitely be more into this series. Also, fun fact: started reading this four years after being bitten by a squirrel and almost a year after saving a baby one. I hope the jokes start to flow a little more evenly and don't read as forced in the future.

Wow this was painful. All the reviews and synopses I read about this book presented Willowdean as a fat girl who doesn't care she's fat. I could not have been more excited, but then the reality of this book set in. Willowdean is such an unlikeable character largely because she doesn't like anyone including herself. As much as Murphy portrays the ostracism fat people face, Willowdean is completely unsympathetic due in large part to her constant whining. Being insecure does not lend itself to constant moaning and groaning. In fact, I would have rather the story followed Hannah, an explicit moaner and groaner, than Willowdean who acts like a victim. Not only was the protagonist unlikeable, but the secondary characters were all so flat. I think this was mainly due to the fact that there were so many which leads me to question where was Murphy's editor? The only redeeming part of this novel is in the last twenty pages because it actually focuses on the pageant and Willowdean acting like how every review sells her--confident. For a book about a fat girl entering a beauty pageant, it really focused on boys which I felt was a huge distraction. Yes, it's important for teens to know that fat people are desirable (and not solely for fetishization purposes) but the love triangle added to Willowdean's unflattering personality and distracted from the overall plot. I also feel like Murphy just picked details from Whip It and Beautiful Girl and forced them together in hopes for a hit. Such a disappointing read.

I kept trying to imagine this as a theatrical performance. Don't do this. Read it as poetry. It's flows more easily this way. Beautiful piece of work. Not every part will speak to every woman of color, but every woman of color will be able to find some part of herself in this text.

Still not my favorite comic. I see the appeal and respect the attempt, but SG just ain't for me!